My heart is in Tennessee but my body is in Winnipeg

I had planned for months to spend the day with Julie Sefton,

who is pictured here with my Words fail me quilt.

I met Julie through her blog

and over the years we've become friends.

Over email and the blog she helped me design this quilt

and I was thrilled to show it to her in person

at AQS Grand Rapids in 2013.

About a year later she invited me to build a barn 

as part of her Build-a-Barn book.

About a dozen of us took up that challenge,

and the smallish quilts were to be part of the book.

In the end, they didn't make the cut

but the gallery of barn quilts is on display today

at AQS Chattanooga.

Several of us signed up to take a course with Gwen Marston,

famous quilt teacher and someone who has influenced me through her books.

But Gwen had surgery and couldn't come

and I began to rethink my trip to Tennessee.

It's a long way from Winnipeg (not really, only about 22 hours by road)

but expensive to fly.

So I didn't go, choosing to save my travel money for another upcoming trip.

I'm sorry I couldn't be there today for the class, 

now taught by another teacher,

as well as missing Julie and other friends I only know through this space.

I am planning to drive to Des Moines, Iowa in early October

where the barn quilts will be hanging again.

Anyone else planning to be in Iowa then?

Let me know.

Read more about the story behind my barn, quilted by Chris Ballard.

And if you're in Chattanooga this week, send me a picture!